Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Five different players scored goals to propel the Omaha hockey team past Western Michigan, 5-1, on Friday night at Lawson Arena.
Josh Archibald and
Jake Guentzel led the way with a goal and an assist each to help the Mavericks improve to 13-14-2 overall and 10-7-2-1 in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Broncos dropped to 14-12-5 overall and 8-9-2-2 in the NCHC.
With the Mavericks leading 2-1 heading into the third period, Archibald used his patented move to increase the lead. He took a pass from
Ryan Walters, slipped behind defenseman Jordan Oesterle and fired a shot high over the glove hand of Broncos' goalie Lukas Hafner.
Austin Ortega pushed the lead to 4-1 at 9:22.
Brock Montpetit circled the net and fed Ortega who one-timed the pass just inside the post for his eighth goal of the year.
Guentzel scored into an empty net from center ice with 1:15 remaining to close the scoring. Archibald picked up the only assist on the goal.
Walters finished with two assists.
Goaltender
Ryan Massa looked sharp in his first game since Jan. 18. He returned from injury to make 32 saves for his seventh win of the year. Hafner stopped 21 in the loss.
The Mavericks opened the scoring at 9:53 of the first period.
Zahn Raubenheimer put a big hit on WMU's David Killip, forcing the puck free.
Tanner Lane carried the puck down the left wing before sending a centering pass back to Raubenheimer who tipped it over Western Michigan goalie Lukas Hafner.
UNO doubled its lead during a rare 4-on-3 power play in the second period. Walters' shot from the right face-off circle was stopped, but
Dominic Zombo backhanded home the rebound for his career best 14th goal at 15:11.
But Western Michigan got on the board less than three minutes later. Chase Balisy took a pass from Kenney Morrison, slipped through the defense and backhanded a shot past Massa at 17:49.
The Mavericks' penalty killers continued to excel, stopping all seven advantages for Western Michigan. They now have turned aside 47 of the last 48 opponent power plays.
The two schools meet again on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. CT.
